byline

November 11, 2014

Non-gasoline
based fueling is becoming more prevalent on our roadways, and shows no
signs of slowing down. Whether electric, hybrid or fuel-cell based, the
new technologies bring with them new challenges for first responders
arriving on the scene of transportation emergencies. Last month, this
compelled the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to expand its
training offered in the arena of electric vehicle (EV) safety.

Online
training in the EV program now includes material on trucks, buses and
commercial vehicles with electric technology to supplement offerings
that cover EV passenger vehicles. The new multi-media courses cover a wide range of topics. Much of the focus is geared toward enabling responders to:

Assess situations involving any large vehicle on the road equipped with electric technology

Deal with vehicle and battery fires as well as charging station incidents

To
accomplish this, the curriculum covers high voltage vehicle and safety
systems, basic electrical concepts, extrication challenges and
technology identification. The addition to the program is being offered
at the request of the fire service, and is free of charge to their
members.